Bookbinding machine



Dec. 17, 1935. H. c. ALGER 2,024,959

BOOKBINDING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1952 s sheets-sheet 2 Dec. 17, 1935.

H. c. ALGER 2,024,959

BOOKBINDING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec.17, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,024,953 BOOKBINDING MACHINE Harley C. Alger,Chicago, Ill., assignor to R. R.

Donnelley & Sons Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication June 24, 1932, Serial No. 619,148

6 Claims.

My invention relates, more particularly, toimprovements in machines foruse in the binding of books of the type known as side-sewed books.

One of my objects is to provide improvements in machines of thecharacter above stated to the end that the books may be "side-sewed" andadhesive applied to the binding stitches.

Another object is to provide improvements in machines of the characterstated to the end of permitting of the side sewing, by machinery, ofbooks having reinforcing strips, as for example of cloth, for securingthe covers to the body of the book, flatwise opposing the faces of thebody of the book adjacent its back edge with projecting flap portionswhich, in the straightened condition of the reinforcing strips, extendoutwardly beyond the back edge of the book and especially, though notexclusively, where the flap portions referred to are previouslyconnected with end sheets to form portions of the book; and otherobjects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a section taken at the line 3--3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a section taken at the line 4-4 on Fig. 2 and viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a portion of themachine of the precedingiigures showing the relative positioning of thebody of the book and the end sheets thereof in the operation ofstitching the book; and

Figure 6, a broken sectional view showing the completed book.

As an example of a kind of book to be bound by my improvedmachine'reference is made to the book shown in Fig. 6 wherein thesecuring of the cover sections, represented at 1, to the body of thebook and represented at 8 (the sheets of which are preferably providedin the form of signatures 9) is by means of reinforcing strips I0, asfor example and preferably of fabric, which are secured along theirinner edge portions II in ilatwise position to the body portion 8adjacent the back edge thereof to extend substantially the full lengthof the body portion, as by the stitching represented at I2, and alongtheir outer edge portions, ilap portions, I3 which extend beyond theback edge of the body 8 of the book, to the covers 1. In other words,the strips I 0 are disposed in such a position relative to the body 8and covers 1 that, considering the covers 1 as folded outwardly intoopen condition as shown of the end sheets in Fig. 5 and represented atI4, the portions I3 of the strips I0 extend outwardly beyond the backedge of the body 8, as represented of these strips in Fig. 5, so thatthe lines of flexure of the strips I0 and at which the hinge jointsbetween 5 the covers 1 and the body 8 of the book are formed, areadjacent the back edge of the body 8 as represented atv I5.

The particular book shown also comprises, in addition to the signatures9 and covers 1, the end 10 sheets I4 above referred to which are each inthe form of a double sheet presenting a, portion I6 which in thefinished book is pasted to the inside surface of the adjacent cover 1 toform a lining therefor, and a portion I1 which forms a double 15 pagefree sheet.

In the binding of such a book, and preliminary to the grouping of thesignatures 9 to form the body 8 thereof, the strips I0 are glued alongone edge to the back edges of the signatures 9 in 20 position thereon asabove stated, and at their other edge to the faces I8 of the portions I6of the double end sheets I4 at the folded portions I9 thereof as shownin Fig. 5; and preliminary to the stitching of the book the folded endsheets I4 are 25 turned outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5 topermit of the stitching through the signatures 9 and the portions Ilonly of the strips II) which are applied flatwise thereto.

After stitching, the book is united with a case 30 comprising the covers1 connected together by the flexible back-edge-forming portion 20 ascommonly provided, and the portions I3 of the strips I8 glued to theinside surfaces of theicovers 1 and 5 the sheet portions I6 adhered tothese surfaces, as for example by pasting, as represented in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the machine shown and provided for stitching the booksas above referred to and applying glue to the portions Il of the strips40 I 0 for adhering them to the sheet portions I1, the machine comprisesgenerally stated a bed 2| along which the books are fed by conveyormechanism 22, to stitching mechanism 23 from which the stitched booksare fed to mechanism 2li4 for 45 gluing the outer surfaces of theportions I I of the strips I8 and the exposed stitching.

The conveyor means shown and which operate to feed the books by anintermittent movement, comprise an endless chain 25 supported, anddriven, by sprockets 26 and 21 provided on shafts 28 and 29 on the frameof the machine. The chain 25 extends lengthwise of the machine and isprovided at intervals with book-feeding lugs 30, shown as in the form ofangle irons which project upwardly through a slot 3| in the bed 2 If,the lugs 5 33 operating to move the books supplied tothe chain betweenthese lugs, through the stitching mechanism 23 and the gluing mechanism24. At opposite sides of the upper reach of the conveyor chain 25 arestationary guide bars 32 and 33 for the books which extend lengthwise ofthe chain 25 and are so shaped at their forward ends as shown at 34 and35, respectively, as to insure the proper guidance of the books into thespace between these bars, the edge of the bar 33 against which the backedge of the book bears being spacedfrom the bed 2| beneath it as bysecuring this bar to the bed 2| of the machine at a point remote fromthis edge as represented at 33.

The conveyor chain 25 is driven by power applied to the shaft 28 as froma continuously operating shaft 31 shown as driven by a belt 33 engaginga pulley 39 on the shaft 31. The shaft 31 is provided with a bevel gear40 meshing with a bevel gear 4| on a shaft 42 which, through the mediumof any suitable mechanism contained in the casing 43, produces thedesired intermittent rotary motion of the shaft 23. By way of example,the mechanism such as that shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,788,968, grantedto R. E. Acklev January 13, 1931, and provided for producingintermittent actuation of an endless book-conveyor element, may beemployed for effecting the intermittent drive of the shaft 28 from theshaft 42.

The particular illustrated construction of stitching mechanisms 23 is ofthe chain stitch sewing machine type which, except as to the featureshereinafter described, is ofthe same construction as the commonly knownwax thread type of sewing machine, the mechanism shown comprising,generally stated, a depending reciprocating boring tool 44 which, by wayof 'example and as shown, may be an awl, arranged in .vertical alinementwith an upwardly extending hook needle 45, the awl in descending,operating to penetrate the work and the needle working through the holemade by the awl and by hooking over the thread at the upper side of thework, in the lowering of the needle, drawing the thread in loopedcondition downwardly through the opening, the needle and awl operatingin timed relation to perform the operation stated. f

In the particular construction shown themechanism for reciprocating theawl 44 is supplemented by mechanism as in the case of the constructionshown in said patent whereby the awl, while engaging the books, 'iscaused to rotate therein to thereby reduce the amount of force requiredto drive the awl through the books. This awl-rotating mechanism beingshown in detail in said patent it will be sufficient to state that therotary member which rotates the awl 44 is represented at 43 and isdriven by a belt 41 engaging a pulley 43 on the member 43 4and a pulley49 on the rotor of a motor 53.

As the mechanism for reciprocating the awl and needle in properly timedrelation to effect the boring and stitch forming operations is wellknown, description thereof appears to be unnecessary, it beingsuilicient to statel that these parts areoperated by the main driveshaft 5| of the sewing machine shown as driven by a sprocket chain 52from the drive shaft 31, itbeing understood that during a/portion of thecycle of operation of the stitching machine the awl 44 is raised above,and the needle 45 is lowered below,.the upper surface of the bed 2|along which the books to be stitched are advanced beneath, and inengagement with, a vertically reciprocable presser foot 53, as shown inFig. 3, the presser foot 53, in

brackets secured to a machine. 'I'he end sheets and the portions |3 ofaccordance with machines of the common form above referred to, beingreciprocated in timed relation to the needle -and awl to engage thebooks during the operation of the awl and while the. needle is movinginto the book and be raised to 5 permit of the feed of the books by theconveyor 23 when .the awl is in withdrawn position.

The intermittent drive mechanism above referred to for the conveyor 25is so constructed and timed relative to the operation of the stitchingmachine proper that the conveyor chain 25 operates to feed the booksonly during those periods when the awl is in withdrawn position relativeto the books and the presser foot 53 is raised.

It may be here stated that in applying the books 15 to the conveyorchain for movement thereby to the stitching mechanism, the end sheets |4and ap portions I3 are swung outwardly on the grouped signatures 9 intosubstantially the position shown in Fig. 5, these sheets, with the flap20 portions I3, lying, respectively, beneath and above the guide bar 33for the back edge of the grouped signatures the upper end sheet beingheld down in the position stated by a wire 54 supported by stationarypart of the 25 the strips secured thereto thus extend to one side of thestitching mechanism to avoid stitching therethrough in the movement ofthe book through the stitching mechanism. 30

The gluing mechanism 23 comprises a. lower glue-applying rotatable disk53 and an upper rotatable glue-applying disk 51 disposed at op positefaces of the book adjacent its back edge in the plane of the stitching|2. 3

The lower disk 53, peripherally grooved at 53, extends into the glue ina pot 59 and is fixed on a shaft 30 rotated by a sprocket chain 3|driven by the shaft 31.

The upper disk 51, also peripherally grooved o at 32 and having achamfered peripheral edge at' which it opposes the book, is fixed on ashaft .33 journaled on the frame of the machine in inclined position, asshown, the shaft 33 being driven by the shaft 30 through the medium of45 meshing bevel gears 34 and 35. 'Ihe glue is fed to the periphery ofthe disk51 from a pot 33 by .means of a disk 31 extending into the potand fixed on a shaft 33 driven by the shaft 33 through bevel gears 39and 13, the disk 31 being disposed 50 at an angle to the disk 51 andextending at its periphery, chamfered, as indicated at 1|, sumcientlyclose to the periphery of the disk 51 to continuously deliver glue tothe latter in the rotation of these disks.

The books stitched and glued as stated, are delivered by the` conveyorchain 25 to endless conveyor belts 12 mounted on pulleys those at onlyone end thereof being shown at 13, the pulleys 13 being flxed on a shaft14 shown as driven o0 by a sprocket chain 15 mounted on sprockets on theshafts 23 and 14.

After the books 'have been stitched and glued as stated the end-sheetsI4 are swung forwardly to overlie the opposite facesof the book andadhere the portions |1 of the end sheets to the glue on the portions ofthe strips I3, pressure to effect the proper adherence beingapplied inany suitable way, and the books then united with the case, comprisingthe covers 1, as above referred to.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction ofmachine involving my invention and a particular construction of book tobe bound thereby, I do not wish to be understood as intending to theinvention thereto, as the '15 machine shown may be variously modifiedand altered and be used in the binding of books of other constructionswithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

As illustrative of variations in the construction of books which may bebound by my improved machine, the end sheets I4 may be provided assingle sheets either to form free sheets or liners only for the covers,or end sheets omitted entirely.

Furthermore the covers, if desired, may be secured to the flap portionsI3 of the strips I0, whether or not end sheets are used, either beforeor after assembling ofthe strips with the body portion of the bookpreliminary to stitching. While I have shown the stitching means as inthe form of a sewing machine, I do not wish to be understood asintending to so limit the invention as other kinds of stitching may beprovided, as for example in the form of staples, to apply Which anydesirable construction of machine may be employed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A book-stitching machine comprising a support for the book to bestitched, a positioning member for engagement by the back edge of thebook, said positioning member having a forward portion spaced from saidsupport to permit passage of a member of said book extending rearwardlyfrom the back edge of the book, and means for stitching the book.

2. A book-stitching machine comprising a support for the book to bestitched, a positioning member for engagement by the back edge of thebook, said positioning member having a forward portion spaced from saidsupport to permit passage of a member of said book extending rearwardlyfrom the back edge of the book, means for stitching the book, and meansfor feeding the book along said member to said first-named means.

3. A book-stitching machine comprising a support for the book to bestitched, a positioning member for engagement by the back edge of thebook, said positioning member having a forward portion spaced from saidsupport to permit passage, at opposite sides of said positioning member,of members of said book extending rearwardly, respectively, from theopposite margins of the back edge of the book, and means for 5 stitchingthe book.

4. A book-stitching machine comprising a sup port for the book to bestitched, a positioning member for engagement by the back edge of thebook, said positioning member having a forward 10 portion spaced fromsaid support to permit passage of a member of said book extendingrearwardly from the back edge of the book, means for stitching the book,and means for applying an adhesive to a face of the book at thestitching, 15 said positioning member extending substantiallycontinuously between the stitching and adhesiveapplying means.

5. A book-stitching machine comprising a support for the book to bestitched, a positioning 2o member for engagement by the back edge of thebook, said positioning member having a forward portion spaced from saidsupport to permit passage of a member of said book extending rearwardlyfrom the back edge of the book, means 25 for stitching the book, meansfor applying an adhesive to a face of the book at the stitching, andmeans for feeding the book successively to said iirst and second namedmeans, said positioning member extending substantially continuously be-30 tween the stitching and adhesive-applying means.

6. A book-stitching machine comprising a support for the book to bestitched, a positioning member for engagement by the back edge of thebook, said positioning member having a forward 36 portion spaced fromsaid support to permit passage of a member of said book extendingrearwardly from the back edge of the book, means for forming holes inthe book, means for stitching through said holes, and means for applyingad- 40 hesive to a face of the book at the stitching to anchor thestitching, said positioning member extending substantially continuouslybetween the stitching and adhesive-applying means.

HARLEY C. ALGER. 5

